How to tell if a 10' 135i has n54 or n55?

[Cornhusker]

Looking at one used in another state, how do I figure this out?

[Dackelone]

Most 2010's were N54's. Some were N55's though(acording to RealOEM). Easiest thing is to look at the engine bay. You can Google both engines to see whats what.

You can also plug in the VIN number on RealOEM's website... then look up the engine code.

http://realoem.com/bmw/select.do


Dackel

[ShocknAwe]

If your engine cover says TwinPower Turbo its an N55.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by Ian///M

+1
From the outside, the side mirrors are different.

Some of the "dumbo" mirror cars (post 2010's) had N55's while most came with N54's. I think it was mostly for press cars.

There is also two versions of the larger "dumbo" mirrors. Early ones were more sculpted than later models.

IF you look on Realoem.com you will see some months (before March/2010)BMW built both engines while later on around March 2010 the N55 production started.

[Boxtyp3]

I'm gonna have to say that the easiest way is through the back pipe of the air filter. The N54 goes all the way to the back to cross the midline. The N55 goes over the back part of the engine cover to cross the midline.

[tuco44]

My 2012 N55 has a label/sticker on the underneath side of the hood which gives the engine code. But the plastic cover should say "TwinPower Turbo" as ShocknAwe said, and that's easier to see.

[NYC6]

N54


N55

[Cornhusker]

thanks!

[tuco44]

NYC6 has nailed it.......

[Cornhusker]

sorry for stupid question but what about m sport package? how to tell? I'm a lil confused because it seems like alot of them have the msport steering wheel but I don't think that means it has m sport package...?

[tracer bullet]

If the front edge of the front seats pulls out, and it has beefy side bolsters, it's a sport package. When I was shopping I learned to tell this in the pictures pretty quickly.

[infinitekidM2C]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

If your engine cover says TwinPower Turbo its an N55.

correct...ironically if it says TwinPower its a single turbo..if it doesnt, its got two turbos..makes sense right?

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by infinitekid2002

correct...ironically if it says TwinPower its a single turbo..if it doesnt, its got two turbos..makes sense right?

Naturally. Well, it's a twin-scroll so I guess thats the Twin in TwinPower.

[NYC6]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Naturally. Well, it's a twin-scroll so I guess thats the Twin in TwinPower.

Sounds like a little deceptive move by BMW me thinks.

[Cornhusker]

Originally Posted by tracer bullet

If the front edge of the front seats pulls out, and it has beefy side bolsters, it's a sport package. When I was shopping I learned to tell this in the pictures pretty quickly.

That means it has sport package, but can't it have sport package but not have M-sport package?

I wish I could find the 2010 PDF brochure..... I looked all over but could only find partial pdfs wo the info i needed.

[dicker]

Originally Posted by Cornhusker

That means it has sport package, but can't it have sport package but not have M-sport package?

I wish I could find the 2010 PDF brochure..... I looked all over but could only find partial pdfs wo the info i needed.

If it has the seats with the pull out front it has sport or M sport, M sport will also have a black headliner instead of gray, and the dead pedal with be stainless with a black rubber pad instead of black plastic.

[ND40oz]

In the US the 2010 model year was pretty short, the switchover happened in the late Feb. 2010 builds and all of the N55 cars should be designated as 2011 models in the US. BMW announced the US model year change to the 2011 year starting in March of 2010.

Easiest way to tell the M Sport package is the black headliner and the 261 wheels.